Thailand's immigration control procedure for foreign passport holders at the airport in Thailand is pretty simple if you have all the required documents in place. What to expect during your arrival at the airport?
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Thailand Immigration Counters
Once at the airport, just proceed to the immigration counters by following the signs “Immigration”.
If you are from one of the eligible countries and have a plan to use Thailand Visa on Arrival, you must go to “Visa on Arrival” counters first. Detailed information about applying for a Visa on Arrival at different airports in Thailand can be found here:
- Visa on Arrival at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
- Visa on Arrival at Bangkok Don Mueang Airport (DMK)
- Visa on Arrival at Phuket International Airport (HKT)
- Visa on Arrival at Krabi International Airport (KBV)
- Visa on Arrival at Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX)
Thailand Immigration at the airports usually has separate counters not only for foreign passports and Thai passports but also for ASEAN passports and even Chinese passports.
Quite often you might encounter long lines at the immigration counters of Suvarnabhumi Airport. Luckily, there is a fast-track immigration service that lets you enter the country fast and worry-free. The service can be pre-booked here: Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Fast Track Immigration Service.
Phuket Airport is also offering a similar service that lets you take the worry out of your arrival or departure at the airport and enjoy a VIP service through the airport formalities. You can book the online Phuket Airport VIP Immigration Fast-Track Service that will fast-track you through immigration and hotel transfer.
Thailand Immigration Procedure
The steps of Thailand's immigration control procedure for foreign passport holders are listed below.
Step 1 - Documents Needed at Thailand Immigration
Present your passport and boarding pass.
In most cases, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of your arrival. Tourists who are planning to use Visa on Arrival must possess a passport with at least 1 month of validity.
The Thailand Immigration card (TM.6) is currently not needed at most of the border crossings. However, there are plans to reintroduce the TM6 form requirement by making the Thailand Digital Arrival Card mandatory from 1 May 2025. More information about the Thai immigration card can be found here: Thailand Arrival Card.
Step 2 - Checking Passport Photo
The immigration officer will compare your personal appearance to your passport photo.
Step 3 - Checking Thailand Visa
Your Thailand visa/Thailand visa exemption will be checked.
Step 4 - Checking Health Control Status
All the passengers from 45 countries on the health control list must show the immigration card with a stamp from the health control counter that they have been tested for diseases specifically prohibited and prescribed in the regulations. In case there is no stamp to show at passport control, the passenger will be taken to health control first.
The list of countries that require an International Health Certificate for Yellow Fever Vaccination is as follows:
- Angola
- Benin
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Colombia
- Congo
- Congo Republic
- Cote d’Ivore
- Ecuador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ethiopia
- French Guiana
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guinea
- Guyana
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Panama
- Peru
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome & Principe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uganda
- Venezuela
- Argentina
- Paraguay
Step 5 - Checking Blacklist Status
The blacklist status of travelers will be checked on the computer system.
If you haven’t overstayed your Thailand visa before and have no criminal record, you shouldn’t have any troubles at this step.
Step 6 - Recording Information
All information of the passport, flight number, and all arrival information will be recorded.
Step 7 - Stamping Passport
The passport will be stamped.
Holders of single-entry or multiple-entry tourist visas will be given an entry stamp for 60 days, most tourists using visa exemption – entry stamp for 60 days, travelers with a visa on arrival – entry stamp for 15 days. Some nationalities and holders of different types of Thailand visas can get an entry stamp with a longer duration.
Your stay in the country can later be extended at one of Thailand's immigration offices. Detailed information about the extension can be found here: Thailand Visa Extension.
Step 8 - Returning Passport
Your passport will be returned to you.
Step 9 - Collecting Baggage
Afterward, you can collect your baggage from the belt.
Thailand Immigration Tips
Take the worry out of your arrival at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport after a long flight, and enjoy a VIP service through the airport formalities. Take advantage of a premium service that fast-tracks you through immigration by booking it online here: Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Fast Track Immigration Service.
